A&W to return to Singapore in 2018
he American fast-food chain’s root beer float, coney dog and curly fries are making a comeback. American fast-food chain A&W will set up shop in Singapore again, after exiting the market more than 10 years ago.
A&W CEO Kevin Bazner said that A&W has had an office in Singapore since 2016, and that the company is looking to open 30 to 40 new restaurants a year across Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand.
The company is currently looking for a retail space for its flagship in Singapore, which is scheduled to open next year. This flagship will also serve as a training store for other Southeast Asia outlets.
A&W – which stands for “Allen and Wright” – made its debut in Singapore in 1966 at Dunearn Road, and the first A&W drive-through opened in 1970 at Bukit Timah Road.
The fast-food joint’s hamburgers, hot dogs and root beer soon became hugely popular among Singaporeans and it is believed its success helped pave the way for other fast-food establishments to set up shop in Singapore, including McDonald’s (1979), Kentucky Fried Chicken (1977) and Burger King (1982).
However, by 2003, A&W faced stiff competition from its competitors and shuttered its remaining outlets in the same year.